'It Felt Like 30,000': Sixers' Doc Rivers Says Fans' Energy Was Amazing In Game 1 Win Over Wizards
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- It was loud inside the Wells Fargo Center as the Sixers took Game 1 of the First Round NBA Playoff series against the Washington Wizards. Tobias Harris led the team with 37 points and Ben Simmons recorded a double-double with 15 rebounds and 15 assists in the Sixers win Sunday afternoon.
And while the Wells Fargo Center isn't at full capacity yet, it sure did feel like a sold-out crowd in South Philadelphia.
"The atmosphere was crazy, every time a bucket was scored everybody was screaming," a fan said.
"I thought the roof was going to come off that's how it felt," another fan added.
It was the Sixers first playoff game back in South Philadelphia in more than two years and head coach Doc Rivers couldn't believe there were only 11,160 fans.
"I can't believe that was 10 -11,000 fans, it can't be," Rivers said. "It felt like 30,000 people in the stands. They were amazing, let's keep it going."
Danny Green also shouted out the fans during his postgame press conference.
"Their energy was amazing," Green said.
They brought the energy early and didn't let their foot off the gas peddle. Early in the First Quarter, they started the infamous "ref you suck" chant after a foul was called against MVP candidate, Joel Embiid.
Fans showed their support for Embiid with MVP chants throughout the game. We even got a "Trust the Process" chant echoing throughout the Wells Fargo Center as Embiid was at the free-throw line at the end of the Third Quarter.
We got a "Trust The Process" chant going on down at the Wells Fargo Center, fans are bringing the energy this afternoon #Sixers #NBAPlayoffs #TTP
— CBS Philly (@CBSPhilly) May 23, 2021
Embiid finished with 30 points.
Ben Simmons had a double-double recording 15 assists and 15 rebounds.
"I thought he was special tonight, whoever he guarded had trouble scoring," Doc Rivers said. " He's a treasure, something you don't see very often in this league. All I see is this greatness in him and I just want him to keep doing what he's doing."
Philadelphia's COVID-19 restrictions were eased on Friday, just in time for the start of the Sixers playoffs. The Wells Fargo Center is now allowed to have 50% capacity -- nearly doubling the crowd and fans are now separated by three feet, rather than six.
"They set it up nice in there, so it felt like it was packed in there even though it was only 10,000 in there it felt like it was packed," a fan said.
Masks are still required while indoors across Philadelphia.
Fans are hopeful Philadelphia will ease its restrictions again on June 11, lifting all capacity-related restrictions just in time for the second round of the NBA Finals.
Game 2 will be Wednesday night in Philadelphia.
CBS3's Alyssa Adams and Alicia Roberts contributed to this report.